Sleigh



(No Model.)

B. J. CHURCHILL.

SLEIGH.

Patented Oct '7, 1890.

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UNITED STATES EDWIN J. CHURCHILL, on NEW HARTFORD, NEW YORK.

SLEIGH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.437,979, dated October 7, 1890.

Application filed May 7, 1890. Serial No. 350,858- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN J. CHURCHILL, of the town of New Hartford, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleighs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear. and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it ,appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in sleighs.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, and in which similar figures of reference refer to like parts in the several views, Figure 1 shows the running-gear of a bob-sleigh involving features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Referring more specifically to the ref-erence-numerals marked on the drawings, 1 indicates the front, and 2 the rear bob, of the sleigh.

Immediately inside of the runners of the bob I provide wheels 2 3, &c., mounted on shaft 4, which shaft passes through circular slots 7 in the runners, and is provided upon the outer end with awasher or plate 8 to hold them in place. The shaft 4 is mounted in swinging arm 5, pivoted to the bob at 6.

10 is the short tongue of the rear hob, and is connected thereto by a bolt or rod working in slots 11 on each side of the nose of the front bob, which permits a limited movement of the tongue 10 with reference to the rear bob. A chain 9 or flexible connections connect the free ends of the lever upon either side of the rear bob with tongue 10. Tongue extends to the forward hob, and is connected thereto by slotted opening and pin, which permit a limited forward and backmovement of the tongue with reference to the front bob. To the tongue 10 is connected a chain 16, which extends to shaft 15 and is connected thereto and adapted to be wound thereon.

15 is a vertical shaft mounted in a bearing in the front bob, and is provided with ahandle 15 for operating the same. From the shaft 15, and secured to the same side thereof as.

chain 16, extends'chain 17'to a'movable piece 18, to which the whiflietrees are attached onupon the tongue or pole 20 for removing surplus snow from the track of the runners and wheel. It will be understood that a ratchet wheel and dog are provided upon shaft 15 for securing it in any desired position.

The use and operation of my device are substantially as follows: The shaft 15 is rotated into such a position and secured as will hold chain 1'7 taut, which also leaves chain 16 slack. In this position the device is adapted to be used as an ordinary bob-sleigh. It will be understood that the rack is omitted, and that the rear bob is drawn by the racks when the partsare in the position just described. In use, when it is desired to cross a bare place or a bare bridgethat is, where there is no snow or ice suitable for a sleighthe operator turns shaft 15 by means of handle 15 so as to draw chain 16 and its connections tight and relieve chain 17. B y this operation the wheels 3 on the rear bob are brought to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, in which they sustain or carry the weight of the rear portion of the load, and when power is applied through the whiffietrees to move the load, chain 17 being slack, the power acts through chain 9" and brings the forward pair of wheels into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that they take the weight of the forward part of the load. In this case the load is en tirely mounted on the wheels. When the wheels are moved from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to that shown in the dotted lines, the shaft ipasses along circular slot 7, and the weight is transferred to the shaft, more or less, by its engagement in the slot, and thus relieves pivotal pin 6. The upright shaft 15 might be transferred to one of the front corners of the forward bob, or it might be made horizontal and extend through the bob, thus leaving the space clear above, and

21 is the snow-plow, that may be provided portion, and a chain or connection with the lower end of the swinging arms, whereby they are swung into position to present the wheels below the plane of the runners, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a sleigh having runners, swinging arms pivoted at their upper ends to the sleigh and carrying a shaft in their middle portion, on which are mounted carrying-wheels, inclined or curved slots in the sleigh-frame, along which the shaft moves as the wheels are swung into position for use, and a chain or connection with the lower end of the swinging arms, whereby the wheels are brought into position for use, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination,with a sleigh having runners, of wheels mounted on a shaft passing between the runners, inclined or curved slots in the runner, in which the shaft engages to support the sleigh, and swinging arms engaging in the sleigh-frame at the upper end and on the shaft at their middle portion, and having a chain or flexible connection connecting the lower end of the swinging arms with a movable block or part to which the propellingpower is applied, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN .T. CHURCHILL Witnesses:

EDWIN H. RISLEY, M. E. ROBINSON. 

